Water heater expansion tank retention device

ABSTRACT

A bracket to retain an expansion tank in conjunction with a water heater tank may comprise an upright member that extends along the side of the water heater tank and a horizontal member that extends along the top of the water heater thank when the bracket is installed, such that the horizontal member is gravitationally retained against the top of the water heater tank. Straps may be used to retain an expansion tank to the upright member. Magnets, retention straps, and/or legs may be used to retain the bracket in position relative to the water heater tank. Straps, extensions upon which an expansion tank may rest, and retention mechanisms may be used to retain an expansion tank in a bracket.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to expansion tanks used in conjunction with hot water heaters. More particularly, the present invention relates to brackets used to retain expansion tanks to hot water heaters.

BACKGROUND AND DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

Expansion tanks have become popular for use with water heaters, and are often required for building codes. Expansion tanks allow for the thermal expansion of water heated by the water heater, thereby avoiding leaks or potentially unsafe conditions. Leaks or unsafe conditions can occur when the water that filled the water heater tank when it was drawn into the tank through a cold water supply line has expanded after heating, as the additional volume of water is generally not permitted to expand back into the supply line and cannot discharge through the hot water output line until hot water is drawn from the system. While expansion tanks are simple and effective devices, the installation of an expansion tank, whether in new construction or as part of a retrofit, can be problematic. One challenge is that the expansion tank is usually much smaller than the associated water heater. Another challenge is that the amount of pipe connecting the water heater to the expansion tank should be minimized both to limit installation costs and to avoid leaks. Yet another challenge is that water heaters are often installed in locations with limited space and few options for providing external support for an expansion tank. As a result of these challenges, supporting an expansion tank in conjunction with a water heater is rarely simple. Often, a shelf, bracket, or improvised homemade solution is used to retain the expansion tank near the water heater. However, the implementation of such a solution is not always possible due to the location of the water heater.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A bracket to retain an expansion tank in conjunction with a water heater in accordance with the present invention may retain the tank on the heater itself, thereby avoiding the need to install a shelf or bracket on a wall or other structure. Systems and methods in accordance with the present invention may be detachably affixed to a water heater tank without damaging the tank and with no or few tools.

In some examples, a bracket in accordance with the present invention may comprise an upright member that extends substantially parallel to the outer wall of a water heater tank when the bracket is installed. At least one strap may extend from the upright member to secure an expansion tank to the member. A horizontal member may extend substantially perpendicular to the upright member when the bracket is installed, such that a face of the horizontal member contacts the upper surface of the water heater tank and is gravitationally retained against the top of the tank when the bracket is installed. The horizontal member may extend from the upright member at a location ranging from the top to the middle of the upright member when the bracket is installed. In some examples the horizontal member may have a total length substantially less than the upright member, such as in a ratio of 2:1 to 10:1. When installed with an expansion tank, gravity may serve to retain the bracket and tank in a desired position, and in some examples magnets provided within the upright member and/or the horizontal member may further retain the bracket in place.

In other examples, a bracket in accordance with the present invention may comprise an L-shaped bracket. In an installed configuration, the long-leg of the L-shape may extend vertically along the exterior wall of the water heater tank, while the short-leg of the L-shape may extend along the top of the water heater tank. A plurality of straps may extend from the long-leg of the L-shape essentially parallel to the short-leg of the L-shape but in the opposite direction. Such an L-shaped bracket may be constructed of plastic, but is not limited to any particular material.

In some examples in accordance with the present invention, an optional extension may be provided to support an expansion tank in an installed configuration. Such an extension may be substantially horizontal and extend orthogonally from the upright member of the bracket and the wall of the water heater when installed on a water heater to retain an expansion tank. The extension may extend from the upright member at the lower end of the upright member. For example, if a horizontal member extends from the upper end of the vertical member, the extension may extend from the opposing end of the horizontal member and in the opposite direction relative to the horizontal member.

In further examples of brackets in accordance with the present invention, retention straps may optionally be provided to retain the upright member of the bracket to the water heater tank. In some examples, retention straps may be used in conjunction with magnets in the upright member, while in other examples only retention straps may be used, in further examples only magnets may be used, and in yet further examples neither retention straps nor magnets may be used.

In further examples, a retaining mechanism may extend from the upright member over at least a portion of the top of an expansion tank in an installed configuration. Such a retaining mechanism may provide a hole or clamp that entirely or partially surround an inlet/outlet opening on the top of the expansion tank. A retaining mechanism and/or an optional extension may be curved or otherwise configured to conform to the shape of an expansion tank. For example, an extension may provide a pliable strap that may extend from the bottom of the expansion tank to the top of the expansion tank when the bracket and expansion tank are installed.

In yet further examples in accordance with the present invention, a bracket for retaining an expansion tank in conjunction with a water heater may comprise at least to portions that may be affixed together to form a unitary bracket to engage to retain and support the expansion tank. For example, a bracket may comprise an upper portion that comprises a portion of an upright member, a horizontal member, one or more strap, and/or a retaining mechanism that engages the top of the expansion tank. Still by way of example, a bracket may comprise a lower portion that comprises a portion of an upright member, one or more strap, and/or an extension that engages the bottom of the expansion tank. In such examples, a joint may be affix the upper portion to the lower portion. Such a joint may physically mate the upper portion and lower portion together, and screws or other fasteners may be used to further secure the joint. Providing an upper portion and a lower portion of a bracket that may be affixed together during the process of installing a bracket to retain an expansion tank may make securing the expansion tank using the bracket easier.

In yet further examples, at least one supporting leg may be provided to engage the floor or other surface beneath the bracket when the bracket is installed with a water heater to hold the bracket and an installed expansion tank at a desired height above the floor. If provided, supporting legs may be adjustable, for example by telescoping, to allow the height of the bracket and the expansion tank to be adjusted as desired or needed for a given installation scenario.

In some examples, particularly examples with retention straps to secure a bracket in accordance with the present invention to a water heater tank and/or examples with at least one supporting leg, the horizontal member may be omitted without departing from the scope of the present invention. In such examples, rather than an L-shaped bracket, the present invention may comprise an upright member with retention straps and/or adjustable legs, as well as at least one of the mechanisms in accordance with the present invention (such as straps, an extension, a retaining mechanism, etc.) in order to retain an expansion tank against the upright member in conjunction with the water heater tank in an installed configuration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Examples of systems and methods in accordance with the present invention are described in conjunction with the attached drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an example of a bracket in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a further example of a bracket in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates yet a further example of a bracket in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates yet a further example of a bracket in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a bracket in accordance with the present invention having an upper portion and a lower portion;

FIG. 6 further illustrates an example of a bracket in accordance with the present invention having an upper portion and a lower portion; and

FIG. 7 illustrates yet a further example of a bracket in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Examples of a bracket for retaining an expansion tank with a water heater are described in examples herein. A bracket in accordance with the present invention may retain an expansion tank affixed to the water heater tank itself, thereby avoiding the need to install a separate structure to hold the expansion tank, and also avoiding the need to rely upon plumbing connections to securely hold the tank in place.

FIG. 1 illustrates one example of a bracket 100 in accordance with the present invention. Bracket 100 may comprise an L-shape, with the long leg 110 having a length 112 and a short leg 120 having a length 122. The length 112 of long leg 110 may be much longer than the length 122 of short leg 120, such as with a length ratio of between 2:1 and 10:1. Short leg 120 may extend perpendicularly from a first end 116 of long leg 110, the first end 116 of long leg 110 being at the top of the bracket 100 when the bracket is installed, and a second end 118 of long leg 110 being at the bottom of bracket 100 when the bracket is installed. In order to install bracket 100, short leg 120 may be engaged on the top of a water heater tank 130 with long leg 110 extending along the exterior of the tank, such that gravity will tend to hold the bracket onto water heater tank 130.

In some examples, the dimensions of a water heater or an expansion tank may make it possible or even desirable for the horizontal leg of a bracket extending along the top of the water heater and referred to as the “short leg” 110 in the present example to be longer than the vertical leg of the bracket extending vertically along the side of the water heater and referred to as the “long leg” 120 in the present example. In yet further examples, the horizontal leg may extend from a portion of the vertical leg that does not coincide with the upper end of the vertical leg, in which case the resulting bracket may have more of a T-shape (albeit a T rotated ninety degrees) than an inverted L-shape. Such variations are within the scope of the present invention.

At least one strap, such as a first strap 140 and second strap 142 may extend from the long leg 110 outward from the water heater tank, and hence in the opposite direction than the short leg 120. The straps 140, 142 may secure an expansion tank 150 to the long leg 110, thereby securing the expansion tank 150 to the water heater tank 130. The straps 140, 142 may be adjustable so as to accommodate various sized expansion tanks and to facilitate the convenient installation of an expansion tank within a bracket. In some examples, buckles may be provided so that each strap can be opened along its length to permit the insertion of an expansion tank and then secured around the expansion tank to retain the expansion tank in position. As can be seen from the example of FIG. 1, in an installed position on a water heater tank 130 the long leg 110 of bracket 100 extends vertically and may be referred to as an upright member, while the short leg 120 extends horizontally and may be referred to as a horizontal member.

To further engage a bracket such as exemplary bracket 100 depicted in FIG. 1, a plurality of magnets may be provided within the upright member 110 and/or the horizontal member. In some examples, bracket 100 may be formed from a plastic or resin, and recesses or holes may be provided within the surface of the bracket 100 facing the water heater tank 130 to receive and retain magnets. Magnets may be retained within recesses using a friction fit, a glue or epoxy, and/or any mechanical connector. FIG. 2 shows one example of a possible arrangement of such magnets, with a first magnet 260, a second magnet 262, and a third magnet 264 provided within the upright member 110 and a fourth magnet 266 and a fifth magnet 268 provided within the horizontal member 120. The number and arrangement of magnets may vary from that depicted in the example of FIG. 2, and may be omitted entirely without departing from the scope of the present invention. In some examples, magnets may be provided only in the upright member 110 or only in the horizontal member 120, while in other examples (such as depicted in FIG. 2) magnets may be provided in both the upright member 110 and the horizontal member 120.

A further example of a bracket 300 in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in the example of FIG. 3. In addition to using a horizontal member 320 to gravitationally hold bracket 300 onto a water heater tank 330 such that upright member 310 extends vertically along the tank 330, at least one retention strap 360 may secure the bracket 300 to the water heater tank 330. At least one retention strap 360 may extend from the upright member 310 and encircle the water heater tank 330. Retention strap 360 may extend from the upright member 310 in the opposite direction that the straps 340, 342 used to retain the expansion tank 350 extend.

FIG. 4 illustrates further examples of a bracket 400 in accordance with the present invention. An extension 460 from the lower end of the upright member 410 may serve to support and hold an expansion tank 450 retained by bracket 400. A further retention mechanism 470 may engage the top of an expansion tank 450, such as by partially or entirely surrounding the inlet/outlet of the tank 450, in order to securely retain the expansion tank 450 within bracket 400. As also illustrated in the example of FIG. 4, at least one leg 480 may optionally extend downward from the extension 460 and/or the bottom end of the upright member 410 in order to provide additional support for the bracket 400 and the expansion tank 450 retained within the bracket 400. Leg 480 may be adjustable, for example by telescoping within itself, so that it may be used in conjunction with water heaters having various heights and in different building configurations.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a bracket 500 in accordance with the present invention having an upper portion 502 and a lower portion 504. A joint may be formed by an end 523 of the upper portion 502 and an end 505 of the lower portion 504 that interlock or physically engage. In the example of FIG. 5, when end 523 is engaged with end 505, a pair of holes 592, 594 on the end 523 of upper portion 502 may be aligned with a pair of holes 596, 598 in end 505 of lower portion 504. When aligned, screws or other fasteners (not shown) may be inserted through aligned holes 592, 596 and 594, 598 to affix end 523 of upper portion 502 to end 505 of lower portion 504. While the example depicted in FIG. 5 illustrates an example of an overlapping rabbet joint with matching holes to receive two screws, other types of joints, fasteners, and numbers of fasteners than those illustrated in the present example may be used.

Still referring to the example of FIG. 5, grooves to receive straps to retain an expansion tank 550 may be provided at locations along what will be an upright member of the bracket 500 when installed. In the example of FIG. 5, a first groove 522 may be provided in the upper portion 502 and a second groove 524 may be provided in the lower portion 504, although other numbers, positions, and/or configurations of grooves (if used) may be adopted within the scope of the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a bracket 500 with a horizontal member 520 extending perpendicular from the upright member formed by the connection of upper portion 502 and lower portion 504. A retention mechanism 570 may extend from the upper portion 502 in a direction opposing the horizontal member 520. Retention mechanism 570 may provide an opening 572 that permits an outlet/inlet 565 of expansion tank 550 to be inserted through opening 572, thereby further securing expansion tank 550 within bracket 500. In many examples, an inlet/outlet 565 may have a hexagonal shoulder 562, and hole 572 may have a corresponding hexagonal shape to effectively engage the shoulder 562. An extension 560 may extend from the lower portion 504 to support the bottom of expansion tank 550. As illustrated in the example of FIG. 5, the extension 560 and retention mechanism 570 are curved to correspond to the expected shape of the expansion tank 550 to be retained by the bracket 500.

FIG. 6 illustrates the example of the bracket 500 shown in FIG. 5 after upper portion 502 has been joined to lower portion 504 to form a joint 610 held together by a first screw 612 and a second screw 614 inserted through holes 592, 596 and 594, 598. As can be seen in FIG. 6, retention mechanism 570 engages the top of the expansion tank 550, with hole 570 encompassing inlet/outlet 565 and extension 560 engages the bottom of expansion tank 550.

FIG. 7 illustrates the exemplary bracket 500 depicted in FIGS. 5 and 6 affixed to a water heater tank 730 using both horizontal member 520 to gravitationally engage the top surface of water heater thank 730 and a retention strap 760 to secure the bracket 500 to the water heater tank 730. Retention mechanism 570 and extension 560 secure expansion tank 550 within bracket 500. In the example of FIG. 7, expansion tank 550 is further retained within bracket 500 by a first strap 740 and a second strap 742.

In various examples of brackets in accordance with the present invention, different combinations of structures to retain a bracket to a water heater tank may be used and different combinations of structures to retain an expansion tank within a bracket may be used. For example, at least one structure to retain a bracket in a desired installed position relative to a water heater tank may be provided, such as a horizontal member, at least one magnet, at least one retention strap, and/or at least one leg. By way of further example, at least one structure to retain an expansion tank within a bracket may be provided, such as at least one strap, an extension to support the expansion tank, and/or a retention mechanism to engage the top of the expansion tank. Different configurations of these structures may be used to affix a bracket in accordance with the present invention to a water heater tank and to retain an expansion tank in the bracket without departing from the scope of the present invention.

In some examples described herein, straps are used to retain an expansion tank within a bracket in accordance with the present invention. However, straps may be omitted or replaced with other retaining mechanisms without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, arms or clamps may be used in addition to or in place of straps to retain an expansion tank within a bracket. Such arms or brackets may be flexibly resilient, spring loaded, screw adjusted, interlocking, or otherwise able to open to receive an expansion tank and to securely hold the tank after the bracket is installed. 

1. A bracket for holding an expansion tank with a hot water heater, the bracket comprising: an upright member that extends vertically along the exterior of a water heater tank when the bracket is installed; at least one strap anchored on the upright member at both ends of the strap such that the strap may loop around an expansion tank held by the bracket to hold the expansion tank against the upright member when the bracket is installed; and a horizontal member extending orthogonally from the upright member in a direction opposite from the direction the at least one strap extends from the upright member when the strap is looped around the expansion tank held by the bracket, the horizontal member gravitationally retained on the top of a water heater tank when the bracket is installed.
 2. The bracket of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of magnets within at least one of the upright member and the horizontal member, the plurality of magnets being attracted to a material in the water heater tank when the bracket is installed.
 3. The bracket of claim 1, wherein the at least one strap is adjustable to allow it to be tightened or loosened around an expansion tank held by the bracket.
 4. The bracket of claim 1, further comprising at least one retention strap extending from the upright member in an opposing direction from the at least one strap that holds the expansion tank against the upright member, that at least one retention strap affixable around the water heater tank when the bracket is installed.
 5. The bracket of claim 1, further comprising an extension extending away from that water heater tank and away from the upright member when the bracket is installed at the lower end of the upright member, such that the expansion tank held by the bracket rests upon the extension.
 6. The bracket of claim 5, further comprising a retaining mechanism that extends from the upright member away from the water heater tank to engage the top of the expansion tank held by the bracket.
 7. The bracket of claim 6, further comprising a hole in the retaining mechanism, the hole in the retaining mechanism encompassing an inlet/outlet of the expansion tank when the bracket is installed.
 8. A bracket that retains an expansion tank with a water heater tank, the bracket comprising: an upright member that extends vertically along the exterior of a water heater tank when the bracket is installed; at least one strap anchored on the upright member at both ends of the strap such that the strap may loop around an expansion tank held by the bracket to hold the expansion tank against the upright member when the bracket is installed; and at least one retention strap extending from the upright member in an opposing direction from the at least one strap that holds the expansion tank against the upright member, that at least one retention strap affixable around water heater tank when the bracket is installed.
 9. The bracket of claim 8, further comprising at least one extension that protrudes perpendicular to the upright member at the lower end of the upright member and away from the water heater tank when the bracket is installed, the expansion tank held by the bracket resting upon the extension when the bracket is installed.
 10. The bracket of claim 9, further comprising a retaining mechanism that extends from the upright member parallel to the extension, the retaining mechanism securable over the top of the expansion tank held by the bracket when the bracket is installed.
 11. The bracket of claim 8, further comprising a horizontal member extending from the upright member in the same direction as the at least one extension strap, the horizontal member gravitationally engaging an upper surface of the water heater tank when the bracket is installed.
 12. The bracket of claim 11, further comprising a plurality of magnets within at least one of the upright member and the horizontal member, the plurality of magnets attracted to the material comprising the water heater tank.
 13. The bracket of claim 8, wherein the at least one strap comprises a plurality of adjustable straps that may be tightened or loosened to hold the expansion tank against the upright member.
 14. The bracket of claim 13, wherein the at least one retention strap comprises at least two retention straps.
 15. An L-shaped bracket to retain an expansion tank in association with a water heater tank, the bracket comprising: a long leg extending vertically along the exterior of the water heater tank when the bracket is installed; a short leg perpendicular from the long leg, the short leg extending horizontally along the top surface of the water heater tank when the bracket is installed; and at least one adjustable strap affixed to the long leg, the adjustable strap securing an expansion tank to the long leg when the bracket is installed, and wherein installing the bracket uses gravitational force to retain the short leg of the bracket against the top surface of the water heater tank while the at least one strap secures the expansion tank to the long leg.
 16. The bracket of claim 15, wherein the at least one adjustable strap comprises two straps.
 17. The bracket of claim 16, further comprising a plurality of magnets within at least one of the long leg and the short leg, the plurality of magnets being magnetically attracted to a material that is a component of the water heater tank.
 18. The bracket of claim 17, further comprising at least one retention strap extending from the long leg and around the water heater tank.
 19. The bracket of claim 18, further comprising at least one extension that extends outward from the long leg at the end of the long leg distant from the short leg, the extension extending from the long leg a distance sufficient to receive and support the expansion tank.
 20. The bracket of claim 19, further comprising a retention mechanism that extends from the long leg and mechanically engages with the top of the expansion tank opposite from the portion of the expansion tank supported by the extension. 